This year’s Hugo Award for best science-fiction novel has gone to John Scalzi’s “Redshirts.”

“Perhaps the best way to try to get through Kerouac’s poems is to approach them not as literary texts but as private ramblings of the sort you might find in the files of a psych ward.” Bruce Bawer on Jack Kerouac’s poetry.

Portraits of famous philosophers, painted in the styles of famous artists.

“The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it.” Samuel Johnson’s letter to the absentee patron of his landmark dictionary.